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Maybe I’m being too harsh on her. She could have gotten a lot more money out of me when we split. But I’ve had a lot of women after me for my money, so a little caution comes with the territory. I keep a social media page, and it’s the worst there. Women begging me to marry them in the comments.
Sarah wasn’t a gold-digger, at least. But she didn’t want to take our relationship to the distance either. She left me for another guy who ended up cheating on her a few months later. I heard through my mom, who stalks Sarah on social media, that Sarah is dating someone again. I don’t follow Sarah on any platforms, so I wouldn’t have heard. Not from my own snooping, anyway.
“I thought your parents were all excited for you to date Jenni, anyway,” Ronnie says.
“They don’t know I’m taking her on a date.”
His mouth curves downward. “You know I don’t like that.”
“It’s nothing serious, but it might help keep Amanda in check.”
“You mean, pretend Jenni is your girlfriend around Amanda?” Ronnie asks.
“Something like that.” If it makes Ronnie feel better that I’m fake dating Jenni, then he can think that. I don’t plan to make any moves on Jenni, but she’s a gorgeous woman. And this might be a way to get Ronnie to calm down about me taking her out.
* * *
Iopen my front door to see my mom on my front step. “What’s this about Amanda coming to see us?”
“You get right to the point, don’t you, Mom?” I widen the door to let her in.
She bustles past. “Of course, I told her she could stay with us. She was a good daughter-in-law to us. I still can’t understand why she ever left in the first place.” She makes a beeline for my living room. “Do you think she wants you back?”
I sink into the sofa next to the loveseat where she’s plopped herself.
“I have no idea. All I know is she acts like she wants to see me in person for some reason.”
“She’s being so secretive. Do you want me to have someone look into it for you?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Like a detective?”
“You know we have people that can dig up info. Your dad has connections.”
“I don’t need his connections. I don’t want Amanda investigated. That would be weird. We can just let her speak her mind when she gets here.”
Mom gets this pouty look on her face, and she crosses her arms. “I don’t like waiting.”
“Well, it won’t be long. She should be here in a week.”
“I couldn’t believe it when she called me,” Mom says. “I was so shocked.”
“You and me both. She was the last person I was expecting to hear from.”
“Do you think she wants to get back together?” Mom asks.
“That’s what I’m worried about. The Amanda ship has sailed, and I’m long over it. To be honest, she never was right for me to begin with. We were young and jumped into the relationship too quickly. Amanda had too many emotional issues she needed to work out anyway. She wasn’t ready for marriage.”
“But it’s possible she’s gotten help and fixed those issues now.” Mom is getting this hopeful look on her face.
“No way. I’m not interested in her. She ran away once. What’s to keep her from running away again after taking a bunch of our money?”
“She didn’t take any money last time, and she was entitled to it,” Mom points out.
“And I think she’s coming back to collect.”
“She never seemed to like you for your money before,” Mom says. “If anything, she turned her nose up at us for having more than others.”
“Come on, Mom. She was entitled to millions. You don’t think she wants her money?”